Gillian Anderson details having a macrobiotic food stage while filming X Files and explains some believe the diet can ‘heal their cancer’ after Elle Macpherson’s ‘holistic’ cure backlash

with-font”>Gillian Anderson has opened up on going through a macrobiotic stage while filming her hit 1990s show, the X Files.

The actress, 56, appeared on Jessie and Lennie Ware’s Table Manners podcast this week, where they discussed her groundbreaking new book, Want, and favourite foods.

Speaking about what she ate while starring as Agent Scully in the sci-fi drama from 1993 to 2002, Gillian explained that she ‘went through so many stages’, and explained what macrobiotics are.

She recalled: ‘I went through a macrobiotic stage for a while, which is impossible to make yourself, you really need somebody else to do it for you.

‘Macrobiotics is a mixture of grains usually like brown rice or quinoa, and there’s seaweed, mushrooms and fermented foods.’

Gillian Anderson has opened up on going through a macrobiotic stage while filming her hit 1990s show, The X Files

The actress, 56, appeared on Jessie and Lennie Ware’s Table Manners podcast (pictured) this week, where they discussed her groundbreaking new book, Want, and favourite foods 

Speaking about what she ate while starring as Agent Scully in the sci-fi drama from 1993 to 2002, Gillian explained that she ‘went through so many stages’, and explained what macrobiotics are (pictured in X Files)

As host Jessie Ware poked fun at the diet, The Crown star explained the benefits and revealed that some even believe it can ‘reverse their cancer.’

She said: ‘It’s very, very healthy. Some people swear by it, it’s very cleansing, it’s meant to be very good for your biome and whole system.

‘But also sometimes people who have cancer go on macrobiotic diets and feel that it heals them somehow, the process sometimes they believe they reverse their cancer by eating macrobiotic food.’

The macrobiotic diet was developed by Japanese philosopher, George Ohsawa, in the 1920s and aims to avoid foods containing toxins.

There is no scientific evidence to the belief that living a macrobiotic lifestyle can treat or cure cancer.

Leading charity, Cancer Research UK, warns that the limited diet can have ‘serious harmful effects especially if you follow it instead of having conventional medical treatments.’

They state: ‘We don’t support the use of macrobiotic diets for people with cancer.’

It comes after Elle Macpherson came under fire for her ‘holistic’ cancer treatment claims last month, being labelled as ‘dangerous’ and ‘awfully irresponsible’.

As host Jessie Ware poked fun at the diet, The Crown star explained the benefits and revealed that some even believe it can ‘reverse their cancer’

It comes after Elle Macpherson came under fire for her ‘holistic’ cancer treatment claims last month, being labelled as ‘dangerous’ and ‘awfully irresponsible’ (pictured in March) 

The model, 60, was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago, but revealed the diagnosis for the first time in her new memoir Elle.

But she caused controversy after revealing she had refused to accept traditional treatment, in favour of an ‘intuitive, heart-led, holistic approach’.

Elle, who is now in remission, explained she had rejected the medical advice of 32 doctors, by refusing chemotherapy after undergoing a lumpectomy for HER2 positive oestrogen receptive intraductal carcinoma. 

She underwent eight months of intense therapy with doctors in Phoenix, Arizona, taking a holistic route. 

Following the release of her memoir, Elle received backlash for ‘dangerously’ promoting the holistic treatment she received during her battle, which she claimed helped her overcome the disease.

Addressing her breast cancer battle in a candid interview with 60 Minutes Australia, Elle said was in ‘shock’ when she got the diagnosis, but chose not to have the mastectomy and chemotherapy that her doctors suggested.

‘As you can imagine, it was a bit of a shock. I think any woman, most women, when they’re diagnosed, don’t think it will to happen to them,’ she said.

Elle underwent a lumpectomy, and learned her cancer had no clear margins — meaning it could have spread and said she was advised to have a ‘mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation and hormone replacement’.

The model, 60, was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago, revealing it for the first time in her new memoir Elle. But she caused controversy after revealing she had refused to accept traditional treatment, in favour of an ‘intuitive, heart-led, holistic approach’

Following the release of her memoir, Elle received backlash for ‘dangerously’ promoting the holistic treatment she received during her battle, which she claimed helped her overcome the disease 

The Australia star said she has always followed ‘natural medicine’ and said her choice was ‘unconventional’ like the ‘rest of her life’.

She said: ‘It was a choice of losing my breasts, or losing my life, that I was given. So it was not a vanity choice, let me put it that way. It was a natural route in my treatment from within.

‘I had been really looking at the body in a holistic way — spiritual and physical well-being’.

The supermodel added that there is a ‘time and place’ for Western medicine, but that she has ‘adopted a more natural lifestyle because that’s what works for me.’ 

She also said she is confident that the cancer will not recur, saying of the chances of it coming back: ‘I don’t anticipate any and I have no indication that there would be. Zero.

‘The body has the infinite capacity to heal and I am in utter wellness… Fear is something that can really make you ill. So I’m not interested in that. I think it’s a wise way to live life, to focus on well-being.’

Her comments sparked huge backlash from the public and health professionals over the unconventional treatment path.

And many people, include fellow celebrities, took issue with Elle promoting the alternative medicine approach to cancer treatment over the proven medicinal approach, as it could lead to others doing the same.